The Traditions That Connect TAS to Taiwan

For generations, the first day of school at Taipei American School has reflected more than the start of a new academic year. It has also reflected the place we call home. 

When Richard Arnold joined TAS nearly 60 years ago, the first days of school began with the sound of firecrackers. Firecrackers are a Taiwanese and Chinese tradition associated with good fortune, new beginnings, and warding off evil spirits. The louder the firecrackers, the greater the blessings to be bestowed. 

Dragon dancers were also once a familiar part of school celebrations. Representing auspicious power and positive energy, the dragon has deep roots in Chinese culture, beginning with the Han Dynasty. Dragon dances have been performed for centuries, evolving from rituals associated with rain and harvests to celebrations meant to bring good fortune and ward off misfortune. 

For generations of TAS students, these traditions offered more than a celebration. They offered an opportunity to learn about the culture and history of the place where they grew up. 

That is the power of tradition. Traditions connect people to their heritage, their homes, and their communities. At TAS, taking the time to understand and incorporate traditions from the culture around us allows us to pay homage to Taiwan while deepening our connection to the place where we learn and to the generations who came before us. 

Traditions become links to the past and bridges to the future. 

Mr. Arnold still remembers his own first days at TAS clearly. In August 1970, an approaching typhoon prompted an evacuation to what is now Taipei Veterans General Hospital. New to Taiwan and unsure how to find his way back to his apartment, he encountered a bus driver who patiently gave him directions. 

That small act of kindness became one of many experiences that shaped Mr. Arnold's understanding of Taiwan over the nearly six decades he has spent here. 

For Mr. Arnold, living abroad with depth and richness depends on a willingness to be curious enough to understand the culture around you. 

“The goal is to show that you appreciate and respect another culture, even and especially when it is different from your own,” he said. 

That curiosity has shaped generations of TAS students. Through experiences such as performing dragon dances during Lunar New Year, an integrated Mandarin education, and learning traditional songs and dances, students connect with Taiwanese culture and with Taipei American School on a deeper level. 

Perhaps that is one of the greatest gifts of an international education: realizing that unfamiliarity can be an invitation rather than a barrier. What initially feels unfamiliar can become deeply meaningful, even life changing. Often, that transformation begins with simply asking questions. 

As TAS begins another school year, traditions remind us that learning does not happen only inside classrooms. They invite us to look more closely at the culture around us, to understand the stories behind the things we do, and to recognize the connections that bind generations together. 

Because traditions are not simply things we repeat. They are opportunities to understand one another, and through understanding, to build a sense of belonging that endures.